Disabled man's bicycle stolen

YOUNG thugs stole a new bike belonging to a mentally disabled man while he popped into the chemist to collect his medication.

Paul Caliandro had spent months saving up £160 from his small disability allowance and was beaming when he returned to his residential nursing home in Granville Road, Southcote, with his purchase.

Mr Caliandro had also bought a lock for the red and grey Apollo Outrage mountain bike to safeguard his prized property.

The 45-year-old who lives with eight other people in the home, was previously more housebound,

as he had to walk everywhere.

But ever since buying the bike, on Thursday, July 25, Mr Caliandro has been going out twice a day to the shops and exploring his area.

David Jewell, senior homes manager, said: "He really enjoyed the bike. He's been using it every day. He was travelling further distances and he found it very therapeutic."

On Thursday afternoon he went out again on the bike to collect his medication from a chemist in Coronation Square.

Mr Jewell said: "As he was locking his bike up against a bike rail, he saw some lads looking at him and his new bike.

"Paul looks quite vulnerable so they could see he has mental health problems.

"They saw him go into the shop and then picked the lock, stole the bike and left the lock on the floor."

"Paul walked home and showed us the lock they had left behind.

"He was very distressed - he couldn't believe what had happened.

"We told him that we would get him a second-hand bike but he said he didn't want that, he wanted his new bike back."

Mr Jewell said that he and Mr Caliandro drove around in the car but could find no trace of the teenage group or the bicycle.

He is now hoping that somebody who saw the incident or knows who has the bike will come forward.

He said: "It happened at 1.30pm, in broad daylight, so someone must have seen something."

Speaking about thugs preying on vulnerable people he said: "It's the way society has become these days."

He said that the mentally disabled residents have been the victims of crime before, right outside their doorstep.

"People come round here collecting money, knowing that these residents are vulnerable, and have talked them into giving away their rent money, some £80," he said. "This has happened only two or three times but it is two or three times too many."

If anyone has information about the mountain bike, please ring Mr Jewell on (0118) 959 9370.